I Come From Nowhere(?)

Andre, , , ,

My dissertation–if you hadn’t already gathered–focuses on the convergence of popular and classical music streams that informs much of Frank Zappa’s music. This confluence means different things in different places (for both Zappa and his audience), but it seems to me to be a defining characteristic that runs through all of his work. My questions here are: Why would this be such an important aspect of his work? and, What influenced him in thinking this way?

Strictly Genteel

On the one hand, Zappa was trying to establish for himself a reputation as a composer of serious art music. His reasons for this are, of course, open to debate, but Zappa was always quick to point out that his ambitions were aesthetically motivated. He was introduced to the modernist music of Stravinsky and Varèse around the same time he began collecting blues and R&B records. Zappa recognized that the disparate styles were commonly seen to be at odds with one another. But since both appealed to him personally, he tried to share this experience of music free from social implications. The obvious way of doing this would be to synthesize these different styles in his own work.

On a slightly different angle, it seems to me that the obvious appeal (and associated cultural capital) of being a respected artist was an equally significant factor. Zappa clearly admired Stravinsky and Varèse (and Webern and Cage, among others) and that he would want to model himself on his “idols” almost goes without saying.

But where does this all come from? What streams (cultural, social, musical) does he fit into? Despite his claims to originality, it seems unlikely that Zappa developed in a bubble.

To begin with, I suspect it may have had something to do with the conservative cultural climate of Southern California in the 1940s and 50s. Zappa saw this environment as oppressive and felt claustrophobic in the rural deserts communities of his youth. For me, Zappa’s self-identification as an outsider is neatly summarized in this 1970 photograph by John Olson of Frank posing with his parents Francis and Rosemary in their home Frank’s Los Angeles home [thanks Corné!]:

Zappa with parents

(Of course, by 1970 Frank had long been out of the house so this picture doesn’t offer an authentic vision of Zappa’s youth. Nonetheless, I think the picture captures much of the spirit of Zappa and his rebellious culture at odds with conservative values, while at the same time offering some ambiguity as to who really belongs in this environment.)

While still a child, he found refuge in the modernist avant-garde. (He would delight in his mother’s recoiling at the sound of Varèse’s sirens being played on the family turntable.) These composers offered a safe mode of rebellion for Zappa in a remarkable way. They were accepted artists–undeniably respectful members of society–whose music had a similar effect with adults to what teenagers experienced with heavy metal in the 1980s.

But I don’t think it ends there. As significant as his rebellion against perceived conservative oppression was, I think there’s something deeper. In discussing when the dichotomy between classical and popular entered the American consciousness, Paul Charosh writes:

We would be mistaken to assume that this division between types of music reflects a simple division between two sets of listeners, one group seeking edification and uplift from classical music and a separate group looking to popular music for a cure for the blues. Some favored light music over serious; others preferred classical music to the popular; but many enjoyed both types of music on different occasions, for different purposes.[1]

Charosh is referring to mid-18th century listeners, but this characterization seems to have some resonance with Zappa’s sentiments a century later. Is this a constant stream in American musical consciousness? Did Zappa inherit this dual validity of opposing musical streams?

For that matter, who else was a part of this? Zappa consistently sought to establish himself as being counter-counterculture. But even as he defined himself against the hippie movement and the politics of the New Left in the 1960s, he took certain aspects of their motivations as his own. Can we consider Zappa to be a part of these movements even if he explicitly denies accepting them?

For now, these thoughts are very preliminary. I don’t have the answers to these questions. (Yet!)

References:
[1] Paul Charosh, “‘Popular’ and ‘Classical’ in the Mid-Nineteenth Century,” American Music, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Summer, 1992), 126.
I Come From Nowhere(?)

32,946 thoughts on “I Come From Nowhere(?)”

  8. supreme jean paul gaultier sunglasses gold

    yaygan ibag pembe bordo okul antas ve kalemlik seti ortaokul lise 眉r眉n resmi roupas nike e adidas atacado ca 茫 ados 泻芯褉芯褌泻芯械 胁械褔械褉薪械械 锌谢邪褌褜械 shatush viola come si fa e a chi sta bene mochi a victor hugo mochi a victor hugo mochi a victor hugo missoma g…

  11. 拽诪驻讜住 讛专诪讜谞讬拽讛 a4 pp 讻驻转讜专 诪注讜专讘 爪讘注讬诐

    primavera oto帽o estilo las ni帽as ni帽os ropa conjuntoropa deportiva de hombre hummel talla m compra online en ebayun bonito dise帽o pu帽os ajustados mujer pantalones de ch谩ndalnine west zapatilla con boca de pescado oro zapatillas

  15. beta lt gore tex pro jacket

    d茅tails sur robe see u soon droite courte c茅r茅monie soir茅 tunique danse jupe long 42asos robe longue mariagethe north face horizon casquette en nylonoodji collection femme pantalon ajust茅 zipp茅

  19. marie hus helse bergen

    clutch bags designer fashion products at forzieri official gai mattiolo couture sony cases marble name personalised samsung galaxy case pokemon sun and moon ipad case skin accent clothing take a look at accents snow styling ft vans brown authentic mall…

  22. slik skaper du hjemme pæ°“ badet comfort

    stylus for samsung galaxy note 5 cream floral moroccan pattern oneplus 7 pro clear case limited edition no planet b cases pela case lenni iphone cases 1d harry styles tattoos lg v30 case evil loki sublime case for oneplus one motorola g6 play sticker g…

  29. zaira striped turtleneck sweater

    marvel avengers infinity war infinity gauntlet electronic fi henrik lundqvist new york rangers reebok premier red classic stainless steel link watch blue 925 sterling silver pineapple pendant charm necklace food drink fine jewelry ideal gifts for women…

  31. vil selge utsolgt krydder til titusener

    womens cheeks bandals exercise slip on flip flop sandals size 8 new free ship true religion slides. m scholl beric emerald womens flip flop sandals green emerald 3 uk 36 eu shoes flops thongs seychelles laugh more suede wedges. m new dolce vita effie s…

  34. dfb sommer cool kissen senden gro脽e wasser

    adidas badge of sport badeanzug rot adidas deutschland online discounter sportliches kleid mit gerader form und gro脽handel calvin klein herren boxershorts trunk warme stiefel bianco l盲ssige damen black obermaterial aus elegant und gro脽z眉gig a rot feixi…

  35. philco phwk 2020 r媒chlovarn谩 kanvica

    s煤prava kr谩tky top suk艌a model pudrovo ru啪ov谩obuv do snehu aigle mtdmustang top谩nky 膷i啪my nohavice d啪铆nsy e shop jese艌 zimamaska pirat kapitan z d艂ugimi w艂osami okazje piraci

  36. styl æžšltæžšny è°©rak

    zalando cappello nike scarpe goretex donna giochi calcio gratis per bambini camicia nera elegante gucci calzini di cotone gucci stivali al ginocchio tacco huawei tablet 10.8 dolomite cappotto modello parka uomo

  37. pendentif soleil ambre

    vetement mode grande taille pas cher sweat è„¿ capuche hill friends costard smoking coque coach iphone 6 information lunettes french retro stan smith 37 1 3 femme sandale beige bonnet pompon fourrure homme

  39. strong 90 102 邪锌锌邪褉邪褌 写谢褟 屑邪薪懈泻褞褉邪 斜械蟹 锌械写邪谢懈

    smart key casenike spidermanwomens keyrings with names on themwomens casio g shock g9000 1v

  42. ristoranti x matrimoni

    fellowes a3 laminè°©lè´¸g茅p lè°©tszer茅szeti kft kezd艖lap facebook kabè°©tok for n艖i sz茅les vè°©laszt茅k 茅s a legjobb mè°©rkè°©k az piros feh茅r zæžšld dekor vilè°©g铆tè°©s 50cm 12v 14k arany karperec fantasia sminkecset k茅szlet 4db sharon n艖i nadrè°©g mè°©rkè°©s ruhè°©k eladè´¸ hasznè°©…

  47. womens black mesh top

    fj盲llr盲ven k氓nken mini backpack barn royal bluenok et vellykket sprek med lek p氓 steimoegga alvdal midtkvinders sneakers. toms skointeri酶r interi酶rlys led ekstralys

Comments are closed.